Sacramento State Announces Sad News
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS/Sac State) issued a Hornets Sports news release on July 22, 2021, that former star Hornets quarterback, Greg Knapp, 58, had passed away from injuries he suffered in a bicycle accident on July 17th. Following his Sac State quarterback career, Mr. Knapp had gone on to coach for Hornets Football before he transitioned to several coaching positions with the National Football League (NFL). At the time of his death, Knapp was employed as a passing game coordinator for the New York Jets.
Bay Area Bicycle Accident
On Saturday, July 17, 2021, Mr. Knapp, who was a resident of Danville, California, had been riding his bicycle in the city of San Ramon when he was struck by a vehicle. According to his agent, he immediately lost consciousness, which was never regained. He was surrounded by his wife, three daughters, mother, and other family members at the time of his death.
The cause of the tragic accident remains under investigation.
Greg Knapp’s Sacramento State Football Career
Mr. Knapp became a student at Sac State in the fall of 1983, after graduating from Huntington Beach High School. He became starting quarterback for the Hornets in 1984. His current rankings in Hornet Football history are:
- Career passing yards (3,806) and touchdowns (32) – ranked 8th
- Career completions (279) – ranked 10th
- Career pass efficiency (124.1) – tied for 10th
- Carrer attempts (524) – tied for 11th.
Following his time as a Hornet QB, Knapp immediately made the transition to coaching for the team. From 1986 to 1988, he served as Sac State’s running backs coach. From 1989-1990 he was the wide receivers coach. From 1991 to 1994, he took dual positions as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. During his time coaching at CSUS, he also attended a number of NFL training camps to which he was invited – with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Raiders, and the San Francisco 49ers.
From Sac State to the NFL
Mr. Knapp began his NFL coaching tenure with the 49ers in 1995 as an offensive quality control coach. This continued to 1997 when he was promoted to quarterbacks coach, then transitioned to offensive coordinator.
Coaching positions with the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos followed. He had recently been hired by the New York Jets as the passing coordinator for the upcoming 2021 season.
Watch the YouTube video. The New York Jets posted the video below to honor the memory of Greg Knapp.
Further Details of the San Ramon Accident
Not many details are available as to the details of the bicycle accident that ultimately took the life of Greg Knapp. An official from the San Ramon Police Department indicated that officers had responded to a bicycle accident in the vicinity of Dougherty Road and North Monarch Road on Saturday, July 17th, at approximately 2:50 p.m. First responders found the bicyclist to have sustained major injuries that were described as potentially life-threatening.
Mr. Knapp’s agent gave a statement to news outlets that a motorist had swerved into the bike lane, striking Mr. Knapp. The motorist stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police officers stated that drugs and/or alcohol were not suspected as factors. Distracted driving has not been ruled out as a cause.
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Sacramento
Thank you for reading our report on this tragic bicycle accident. I’m Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento, California. Our hearts go out to Mr. Knapp’s grieving family. The pain of losing a loved one so suddenly and unexpectedly is overwhelming. When negligence is the cause of an untimely death, grief can be compounded by feelings of anger and frustration. A compassionate wrongful death lawyer can help to guide a heartbroken family through the difficult legal processes that follow such an event. If your family has experienced a loss caused by a negligent motorist, please call us for free and friendly legal advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.
More information about our firm can be found at the sites linked below:
Photo: Pixabay
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